Despite the current difficulties, negotiations are expected to continue. Legal action by the dealers likely would result in the termination of service contracts by GM, potentially exposing bigger retailers with large customer bases to further losses....More

Even as California dealers face an enormous volume of recalls through actions by Takata, General Motors and other companies, their sales numbers continue to rise. A spokesman suggests some of the credit goes to consumers who appear not to be panicked over the recalls....More

Automakers credit the uptick in profitability to restructuring efforts and the government’s ongoing scrappage program providing subsidies for new-vehicle purchases while retiring less-efficient vehicles....More

Consumers now can get better financing information and apply for loans online, and dealers are beginning to post detailed information on other F&I products, as pressure mounts to whittle time from the car-buying process....More

Continental’s Connected Technician uses a tablet with a wireless link to a vehicle to coach a mechanic step-by-step through the entire process of diagnosing a problem and then fixing it. The device will be on the market next year....More

“For 2015 we expect to see some leveling off throughout the year. Demand is back to pre-recession levels following record-breaking growth,” Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders CEO Mike Hawes says....More

BMW and Ford each have two stout turbo-6s in the hunt this year, while Infiniti has one. All five are smooth, extremely refined, reasonably fuel-efficient and dishing up loads of horsepower and torque....More

We call out vehicles with problematic fit-and-finish, materials, ergonomics or unfortunate design choices. Each of these items resulted in points deducted as WardsAuto editors selected the 2016 Wards 10 Best Interiors.